Monterey Bay

This weekend's top events: March 11-13, 2011

Friday

Chamber Music Monterey Bay presents a special "East Meets West" concert featuring the Amelia Piano Trio and Wang Guowei on Erhu, a two-stringed Chinese instrument similar to a violin (as seen in the video above). The program includes Debussy's Piano Trio in G Major, Hua Wanjun's Listening to the Pines, Mozart's Sonata in F Major for Violin and Piano, Yang Yong's River Song, for Erhu and Cello and Ravel's Piano Trio in A Minor. Pre-concert talk at 7pm, concert at 8pm. Sunset Center, 9th and San Carlos Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $31 to $55 and can be purchased online.
Monterey Bay's favorite reggae party band, Jonah and the Whalewatchers, return for another fun-filled night at Bullwackers. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover.
Though musician Mark Banks was first inspired to go into music by Nirvana, his sound couldn't be more different. Banks combines soul, jazz and rock for a smooth sound with inspirational elements. See him tonight at Jose's Underground Lounge. 9pm, 638 Wave Street, Monterey. $5.
Lia Ices - Daphne from Ravenhouse LTD. on Vimeo.
Seattle's indie folk-rockers The Cave Singers is led by former Pretty Girls Make Graves member Derek Fudesco, who plays alongside Pete Quirk and Marty Lund. Their new album, No Witch, was just released on Jagjaguwar (download samples here). Brooklyn's Lia Ices has garnered buzz from Pitchfork and Nylon for her experimental music that moves from ethereal to down tempo and back again (download samples here). Seattle experimental psychedelic band Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death (download sample here) play compelling, melancholy, somewhat shoegazey music. The three bands play what is sure to be a packed show at Fernwood in Big Sur tonight. 9pm, Fernwood Resort, Highway One in Big Sur. Tickets are $12.50 plus fees and are available online.

Saturday

Learn to forage for mushrooms and dine on a mushroom-themed lunch at Edibles of the Wild at Bernardus Lodge. The buffet lunch features Cal Stamenov's signature portobello mushroom soup, wild mushroom gratin, wild mushroom risotto, prime beef, local seafood and even a mushroom-themed dessert. 11am-2pm, Bernardus Lodge, 415 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $95; call 831-658-3400 to reserve.
Experience the world's number one Queen tribute band at One Night of Queen at the Sunset Center. 8pm, Sunset Center, 9th and San Carlos Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $39 to $58 and can be purchased online.
Winners of the Monterey County Weekly's "Best Local Band" award in 2009 and 2010, Cheeky Spanks bring a mix of classic rock covers, R&B and fun dance music to Bullwackers. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover.
Honeymoon "After The Flood" EP Promo from Jacob Blunt on Vimeo.
Raw country-rockers Truth & Salvage Co. and indie/bluegrass/folk band honeymoon (seen in the above video) play tonight at Fernwood Resort in Big Sur. 9pm, Fernwood Resort, Highway One in Big Sur. Tickets are $10.00 plus fees and are available online.
"Gypsy Swing" band Hot Club de Watsonville set toes tapping at London Bridge Pub. 9:30pm, Wharf No. 2, Monterey. No cover.

Sunday

Avant-garde theater that's fun for the whole family? You bet! In the movement piece The Aluminum Show, dancers and actors bring industrial materials to life to tell a narrative story of a machine trying to find its parents. It's visually interesting, energetic, frequently bizarre and well worth seeing. 4pm, Sunset Center, 9th and San Carlos Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $48 to $68 and can be purchased online.
There's even more events going on this weekend, including theater productions of Funny Girl, Disney's 101 Dalmatians and The Exonerated. For full listings see the SeeMonterey calendar.